Yemen sends more troops to al-Qaeda strongholds

Yemen deployed several hundred extra troops to two mountainous eastern provinces that are al-Qaeda's main strongholds in the country and where the suspected would-be Christmas airplane bomber may have visited, security officials said Saturday.

The reinforcements were part of a stepped-up campaign by Yemen to combat al-Qaeda, with increased support from the United States. The fight against the terror network gained new urgency after the failed attempt on Christmas Day to bomb a US airliner headed to Detroit. (AP)